Kuhlau, (Daniel) Frederik (Rudolph) (1786-1832)

German-born Danish composer. His music spans the end of the classical period and the beginning of the Romantic style. During the French occupation he went to Denmark to escape conscription and became a flautist in the court orchestra in Copenhagen. In 1825 he visited Vienna, Austria, and met Beethoven, who composed a punning canon on his name.

A child of poor parents, he picked up musical knowledge at Brunswick and Hamburg, Germany.

Works Stage operas Røverborgen (1814), Trylleharpen (1817), Lulu (1824), and several others; incidental music for Heiberg's Elverhøj (1828).

Other piano works; flute pieces.